Frequently Asked Questions

Choose the Right Winch and Install it properly. First choose an installation site accessible to you. Align an unobstructed path to the car that you are loading. Prevent any metal-to-metal contact with the wire rope. Mount the winch close enough to the trailer’s front to pull the vehicle completely on. If it’s mounted under something, such as a toolbox, leave enough space to access the winch. See Below for Trailer Tips. Consider a pulley block. With a hook for mounting and a pulley for the wire rope, a pulley block lets you offset the winch but retain a straight shot. A pulley block can also be used to nearly double the winch’s capacity by simply attaching the pulley block’s hook directly to the load and the winch’s hook to a sturdy mount near the winch. Wire it right. A trailer wiring kit, like the kind available from Superwinch, makes it easy to get power for the winch from the tow vehicle’s battery. To maintain electrical performance from the battery to the winch, we recommend dropping 3 wire sizes for every doubling of the length of the standard wire harness. Example: No. 6 to No. 3 or 2 gauge. A quick disconnect plug for the truck comes prewired with a negative lead. Simply install the special terminal to the positive side of the quick disconnect and position the plug at the rear of the truck, perhaps under the bumper. If your tow vehicle isn’t equipped with a towing package that includes a dual-wire ground setup, Superwinch recommends installing the negative battery terminal strap provided with their winches. Take care that your wiring has fully secured leads which are clear of hot or moving parts.Know Your Rolling Weight: For safe and sure loading, Superwinch recommends following the car and trailer load chart below. Find the column that matches your percentage of slope or grade. Determine the slope by dividing the amount of your ramp’s rise by the ramp’s length. Match the slope with the nearest weight of your car, always rounding up, and locate the corresponding winch Rated Line Pull (RLP)*. This guide is recommended for average vehicle rolling loads. Some applications may require larger winches than indicated.Trailer Tips: Accessorize For Safety. Maximizing winch safety and performance is as simple as attaching the proper accessories. Superwinch offers roller fairleads, recovery straps, gloves, and many more accessories designed for your special needs. * RLP - The weight the winch could pull perpendicular to the ground with a single line on the first layer of wire rope on the drum.
Car Trailers/Rolling Weight

Grade*

Rated Line Pull (RLP)

10%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1,000 lb.

5,025

3,401

2,155

1,664

1,422

1,285

1,500 lb.

7,538

5,102

3,233

2,496

2,134

1,928

2,000 lb.

10,050

6,803

6,347

2,816

2,407

2,175

2,500 lb.

12,563

8,503

5,388

4,160

3,556

3,213

3,000 lb.

15,075

10,251

6,428

4,991

4,268

3,854

3,500 lb.

17,588

11,905

7,543

5,824

4,979

4,499

4,000 lb.

20,100

13,668

8,643

6,655

5,690

5,138

4,500 lb.

22,613

15,306

9,698

7,488

6,401

5,784

5,000 lb.

25,126

17,009

10,776

8,320

7,112

6,427

6,000 lb

30,151

20,408

12,931

9,983

8,535

7,712

9,000 lb.

45,226

30,612

19,397

14,975

12,802

11,568

12,500 lb.

62,812

42,492

26,926

20,825

17,786

16,071

16,500 lb.

82,911

56,089

35,542

27,489

23,478

21,213

To convert lbs. to kg multiply by .4536
*A 10% grade is a rise of one foot in ten feet.
•Winches are not intended as a load securing device.

All ratings are based on the first layer of wire rope on the drum. You could experience a loss of up to 13% pulling capacity per layer of wire rope (see example below).

Example of S5000 and the effect of each layer on Rated Line Pull (RLP) and rolling loads

S5000

RLP

10%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1st Layer

5,000

2,5126

17,009

10,776

8,320

7,112

6,427

2nd Layer

4,231

24,260

14,390

9,118

7,040

6,018

5,438

3rd Layer

3,667

18,424

12,471

7,902

6,101

5,216

4,713

4th Layer

3,236

16,258

11,004

6,972

5,383

4,602

4,159

5th Layer

2,894

16,258

9,846

6,239

4,817

4,118

3,721

Many of our units come standard with 50' of wire rope or more. In some cases this may be a disadvantage. Due to the length of your trailer you may be starting on the 3rd or 4th wrap. Simply shorten the wire rope to your needs. If you can work with 30', then shorten the wire rope and your performance will improve.

NOTE: To maintain electrical performance from the battery to the winch, we recommend dropping 3 wire sizes for every doubling of the length of the standard wire harness.

Example: No. 6 to No. 3 or 3 WG

Warranty

1 Year Warranty

LIMITED WARRANTYSuperwinch Inc. (“Seller” or “Superwinch”) warrants to the original retail buyer only (“Buyer”) that all genuine SUPERWINCH products, parts and components except wire rope and accessories (“Products”) shall be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE (1) year from provable date of purchase of a new Product. Any Product that Superwinch determines to be defective will be repaired or replaced at Superwinch’s solediscretion without charge to Buyer upon Buyer’s compliance with these procedures. Seller or its Authorized Agent may make reasonable charges for parts and labor for repairs not covered by this Limited Warranty. The warranties set forth herein are exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties, whether oral or written, express or implied.

LIMITED WARRANTY PROCEDUREWhen contacting Seller, Buyer shall mail, ship or otherwise deliver to Seller at the address noted below or to a Factory Authorized Service Center: (1) the Product; (2) a written description of the problem; (3) Buyer’s name, address and telephone number; and (4) a copy of the original sales receipt. Mail, ship or otherwise deliver the Product, required information and copies to Seller, postage or shipping prepaid.LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONSRepair and/or replacement of the Product is the sole and exclusive remedy for Buyer This warranty does not apply to defects in any Product caused by: (1) normal wear and tear; (2) failure to comply with any installation, operation or maintenance instructions provided by Superwinch including but not limited to subjecting the Product to loads in excess of the load listed in the Owner’s Manual or instructions for the particular Product and model number; (3) commercial or industrial use; (4) alteration or modification by parties other than Superwinch; (5) misuse, abuse, neglect, accident, Acts of God or terrorism; or (6) other causes beyond the control of Superwinch after delivery of the Product by Superwinch to its authorized distributor. If any model or sample was shown to Buyer, such model orsample was used for illustrative purposes only and shall not be construed as a warranty that the Product shall conform to the sample or model.TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE FOLLOWING ARE HEREBYEXCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED:(1) All warranties with respect to the wire rope, whether sold alone or used in or incorporated in any Product.(2) All warranties with respect to the Product’s finish.(3) All warranties of fitness for a particular purpose.(4) All warranties of merchantability.(5) All claims for consequential or incidental damages.Some states or jurisdictions do not allow limitations or exclusions in consumer transactions, and these limitations or exclusions may not apply to Buyer. The warranty gives Buyer specific legal rights and there may be others. If a warranty is deemed to apply to this Product, it shall exist only for the same period of time set forth in the express limited warranty set forth above. NO agent, dealer, distributor, or employee of Seller is authorized to make modifications to this warranty, and not such statements, whether oral or written, shall be binding on the Seller.